Similar story on friday. NH insisted on an "immediate visit or as matron I'll
take it up with the authorities" for an elderly lady who had just passed a
tiny clot once PV. No, they didn't have any sterile gloves or examination kit,
I should bring them myself. Refused to bring her to surgery "we don't have a
car or insured to transport pts" "what do you do if someone needs to get the 1
mile to the physio pool?" "we get an ambulance". Saw her within 30 mins
feeling v sorry for the old duck who i know well. Nothing to find but
routinely referred anyway. "No, says matron, you ought to know that this
referral must be urgent as this could be Ca uterus. I know a lot about my pts
and these things". "that's interesting, says I, she had a hysterectomy+BSO 40
years ago. By the way do you not think this did not need an urgent visit let
along an immediate one?" "look, you're paid to deliver a service to these
elderly pts. so when we request a visit, you do it ASAP ok? understood?"
Doctor walked out.
Should I complain and who too? would it do any good?
----------
From: [log in to unmask] on behalf of Jel Coward
Sent: 08 February 1998 23:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Lost the Battle - Bomb the B*rstards
In article <[log in to unmask]>, C-P
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Saturday morning surgery, first patient -
Remember - all generalisations are dangerous (pinched this off someone
else - but I like it - especially just before I generalise ;) )
Don;t give in, do what your conscience and best parctice tell you - and
stick to it and face the flack.
Friday night - call from res home - lady of 91 fell, say she is ok but
wanted to check that is ok with me - told is ok if they think she is
fine. Hour later - put her to bed - she groaned (but she often does
this Dr) but we want her _checked_. Fine get her up to casualty and
I'll see her. She's 91, it's cold etc etc - oh, and I don't know how to
call an ambulance. Told I will see in the best place that gives me the
best chance of making an accurate diagosis and taking the correct
management steps etc.
Ok - they'll do it.
Half hour later - another call - won't do it - advised to do it - ok
again.
Half hour later they have got daughter in - harangs me on phone - she's
91 etc etc - explanation given as above - again - ok will come up.
Half an hour later - daughter again - won't come up - _I just want her
hips checked_ _Are you refusing to visit?_ (carefully chosen words me
thinks) No, I'm not refusing to visit but am offering to see your
mother in appropriate place etc etc and I want to give her the best care
I can - which I can't do trying to examine her in a soft bed with 4
layers of clothes and no nurses or proper light levels etc etc It is
not fair that you ask me to examine your mother in sub-optimal
conditions and expect me to get it right. Not only that, I am surprised
that you want this sub-optimal situation for your 91 year old mother,
and also offended by your threats when you say _If anything happens to
my mother...._
So eventually they came, daughter stayed at res home (expecting mother
to be returned I suppose). She had detailed exam with proper exposure -
mild tenderness of right hip was found on second exam (I wnated to be
sure!) - #NOF oh, and R ankle (no swelling except usual oedoema but
tender lat malleolus - I would have missed all this if i had seen her
bed at home.
I will not practice sub-optimal medicine for the convenience of others -
ok, arguing is stressful - but not as stressful as getting it wrong or
feeling you are just everyones lacky.
(Oh, and daughter thanked me afterwards).
Cheers :)
--
Jelly Bean [log in to unmask]
When you get fed up surfing....
....go find some waves.
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